Nutrional science professor awarded the Hoebel Prize for Creativity
Kathleen Keller, professor and Helen A. Guthrie Chair of Nutritional Sciences, has been awarded the Hoebel Prize for Creativity by the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, an organization dedicated to studying ingestive behavior and its biological, physiological, and social processes. Each…
Teens and drinking: What parents need to know and how they can influence behavior
Parents of teens and young adults can help keep their kids safer from the dangers of drinking, says Rob Turrisi, Penn State professor of biobehavioral health and SSRI cofund. Learn more in this new episode of the Raising Good Humans podcast with Dr. Aliza.
Annual substance use conference examines cannabis use, future of tobacco
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Social Science Research Institute’s (SSRI) Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction (CSUA) recently hosted its fifth annual conference in the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub at the University Park campus. Drawing over 140 attendees throughout the day including…
Clinical and Translational Science Institute awards six pilot grants
Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute is helping to generate innovative health research ideas and promote collaboration through the awarding of pilot grants in its Bridges to Translation program. The institute has awarded $250,000, with co-sponsorship from the …
Drawing and mental health research project receives award in field of neuroarts
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State School of Theatre faculty member Bill Doan’s collaborative research project examining how drawing can be a tool for managing mental health is among the first recipients of the Renée Fleming NeuroArts Investigator Awards. Doan, professor of theatre and director…
Empathetic children may have poorer health in the face of interparental conflict
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Children who report being more empathetic are more likely to show signs of poorer health in the face of more interparental conflict than less empathetic children, according to a new study led by researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development. The study…
Lecture to discuss behavioral factors that drive what, why and how children eat
Kathleen L. Keller, Penn State professor of nutritional sciences and food science and Social Science Research Institute cofunded faculty member, will present the 2024 Pattishall Research Lecture, “Understanding Children's Eating Behaviors: The What, Why and How?” The…
Van Hook named distinguished professor
Jennifer Van Hook, Roy C. Buck Professor of Sociology and Demography, College of the Liberal Arts, was recently named distinguished professor by Penn State's Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. The distinguished professor or distinguished librarian title recognizes outstanding…
Rural health symposium being held Jan. 24
The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) is hosting a Symposium on Social Science Research on Rural Health at Penn State on Jan. 24, 3 - 5 p.m., in 110 Henderson Building. According to symposium organizer Danielle Rhubart, assistant professor of biobehavioral health and demography and…
Interactive screen use reduces sleep time in kids, researchers find
While screen time is generally known to affect sleep, new research suggests that interactive engagement, such as texting friends or playing video games, delays and reduces the time spent asleep to a greater extent than passive screen time, like watching television — especially for teens. The…
Brant receives Roy C. Buck Award
Kristina Brant, assistant professor of rural sociology and SSRI cofund, received the Roy C. Buck Award at the College of Agricultural Sciences' 2023 Research Awards Ceremony, held Nov. 1 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center on the University Park campus. Brant was honored…
Kathleen Keller receives the Evan G. and Helen G. Pattishall Outstanding Research Achievement Award
SSRI cofund Kathleen Keller was recently awarded the Evan G. and Helen G. Pattishall Outstanding Research Achievement Award. The award recognizes research contributions occurring or culminating within the past several years and is endowed by Evan Pattishall, dean emeritus, of the former College of…
Americans will spend half their lives taking prescription drugs, study finds
An American born in 2019 will spend a larger share of their lifetime taking prescription drugs than being married or receiving an education, according to new research by Jessica Ho, associate professor of sociology and demography at Penn State. She found that American males will spend approximately…
Supporting speech and swallowing in individuals with Down syndrome
Individuals with Down syndrome have vocational, educational, social and personal goals, all of which can be realized with targeted services, according to a Penn State research team. The researchers recently investigated how to establish specific support interventions related to speaking and…
Theatre professor and psychology faculty expand research on drawing and anxiety
For the past six years, Bill Doan’s research and creative work has focused on how drawing can be a tool for managing mental health. He is now involved in a joint-funded project that is taking that work to a new level by measuring individuals’ physiological responses while drawing. Doan, professor…
SSRI Welcomes Three New Co-Funded Faculty Members
The Social Science Research Institute welcomes three new co-funded faculty members to Penn State: Cleothia Frazier, asistant professor of sociology in the College of Liberal Arts. Frazier completed her Ph.D. in sociology at Vanderbilt University and MPH at Michigan State University.…